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New York Film Academy · Screenwriting

MFA in Screenwriting

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in ScreenwritingPartial fundingEditorial selection: Top Screenwriting Schools

Overview

An accelerated two-year, five-semester, full-time MFA in Screenwriting at the Los Angeles campus covering features, television, web series and other media, with industry internships in the final two semesters and a closing Pitch Fest. 2027 tuition is $20,500 per semester.

Official program name
MFA in Screenwriting
Awarded degree
Master of Fine Arts in ScreenwritingMaster's · Master of Fine Arts
Source: nyfa.edu · verified October 12, 2026
School
New York Film Academy — Screenwriting
Location
Burbank, CA
Delivery
On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Source: nyfa.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Required attendance
Regular campus attendanceStudents attend classes on campus throughout the program.
Source: nyfa.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Study intensity
Full-time
Source: nyfa.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Duration
Two years, five semesters
Source: nyfa.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Required credits
Not verified
Start
Spring, Fall
Source: nyfa.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Film and television
The program covers both film and television.
Source: nyfa.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Fields of study

FieldClassificationEvidence
ScreenwritingDedicated degreeThe degree itself is in this field.Source: nyfa.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Why this degree is listed

MFA dedicated to screenwriting.

Source: nyfa.edu · verified October 12, 2026

We list verified film degrees only — no certificates, workshops or generic degrees with a few film electives. Eligibility rules

Curriculum, pathways and faculty

Thesis, film or capstone

Thesis screenplayProgram concludes with a Pitch Fest where students pitch their thesis script.

Source: nyfa.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Internships

  • Industry internship in each of the final two semesters.
    Source: nyfa.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Production projects

  • Students also write and direct a short film.
    Source: nyfa.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Faculty listed by the program

Faculty list: not verified. We publish this only when the school states it on an official page.

Production costs and equipment

Production and equipment costs are separate from tuition. Tuition does not include cameras, crew, actors, locations, software or thesis-film budgets unless the school says so.

Equipment and facility access

Software provided
Digital license to Final Draft; access to camera, sound and lighting equipment.
Source: nyfa.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Published production and equipment costs

Thesis and project spending

Departmental Program Fee
$80 (basis not stated by the school) MandatoryDepartmental program fee of $80 (period not stated).
Source: nyfa.edu · verified October 12, 2026

We never estimate a total cost when key expenses are unpublished. Compare production costs

Admissions

Each submission item is shown exactly as the school states it. Anything not listed is not verified — never “not required”.

Portfolio and submission materials

MaterialStatusInstructions as published
Screenplay sampleRequiredOne of three options: screenplay/prose excerpt (5-10 pages), short story or critical essay (3-7 pages), or treatment/outline (3-7 pages).Length: 3–10 pagesSource: nyfa.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Other requirements

Personal statement
RequiredNarrative statement, max 5 typed pages.
Source: nyfa.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Recommendation letters
Required2 letters — Two letters of recommendation.
Source: nyfa.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Interview
RequiredCandidate interview.
Source: nyfa.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Application fee
Required$75 — Non-refundable $75 application fee.
Source: nyfa.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Transcripts
RequiredOfficial final undergraduate transcript.
Source: nyfa.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Tests

TOEFL iBT
Required — minimum 79Preferred score for master's applicants who must show English proficiency (tests before January 21, 2026).
Source: nyfa.edu · verified October 12, 2026
IELTS Academic
Required — minimum 6.5Preferred score for master's applicants.
Source: nyfa.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Duolingo English Test
Required — minimum 120Preferred score for master's applicants.
Source: nyfa.edu · verified October 12, 2026

We do not publish acceptance rates or estimate competitiveness. Build an application checklist

Deadlines

Dates are shown with the year and intake the school printed. A past date is marked passed and is never carried into a new cycle.

Application deadlines: not verified. We publish this only when the school states it on an official page.

Tuition and fees

Each amount keeps its applicant category, academic year and basis. Per-credit, per-year and whole-program figures are not comparable with each other. Production costs are listed separately above.
CategoryAmountBasis and year
All students — Los Angeles, Spring & Fall 2027$20,500per semester · 2027Source: nyfa.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Mandatory institutional fees

Technology Fee
$80 per semesterMandatory
Source: nyfa.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Wellness Services & Programming Fee
$145 per semesterMandatory
Source: nyfa.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Activity Fee
$125 per semesterMandatory
Source: nyfa.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Funding

Some scholarships, assistantships or awards exist for some students; full funding is not stated. “Fully funded” never means every personal or production expense is covered. How we classify funding

Partial funding

Tuition coverage
NYFA scholarships reduce a portion of tuition and are applied directly to tuition.
Source: nyfa.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Named scholarships, assistantships and production grants

Sources and verification

Every fact on this page comes from the official pages below. Last verified October 12, 2026.
  1. nyfa.edu/admissions/admissions-requirements/mfa/ — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
  2. nyfa.edu/admissions/admissions-requirements/mfa/creative-portfolio/ — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
  3. nyfa.edu/mfa/screenwriting/ — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
  4. nyfa.edu/student-finances/scholarships-and-grants — Official funding / aid page, verified October 12, 2026

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Similar programs

Same degree level and field. Listed for discovery, not ranked.

Loyola Marymount University

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Location: Los Angeles, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Screenwriting (dedicated degree) · Producing (broader film degree)
Duration: Three years
Funding: Funding not verified
Tuition: $1,814 per credit · All students — Graduate tuition per semester hour, School of Film and Television · 2026-2027
Deadline: November 15, 2026 · Fall 2026 (as printed)
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MFAMFA in Screenwriting
Location: Orange, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Screenwriting (dedicated degree)
Duration: Two years
Funding: Partial funding
Tuition: $28,018 per semester · All students · 2026-2027
Deadline: November 15, 2026 · Fall 2027
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